Folder with paper inserting means

ABSTRACT

A folder for folding articles of clothing, e.g., shirts, shorts, etc. with means for inserting a paper element or card in each article; the device includes means for introducing the paper or card at the entrance of the folder, with the article as it is introduced, and folding the article around the paper.

United Grantham States Patent 1 et al.

[451 Aug.6, 1974 [75] inventors: Frederick W. Grantham, Santa Monica; Gordon L. Fleming, Malibu, both of Calif.

[73] Assignee: Frederick W. Grantham, Santa Monica, Calif.

[22] Filed: Nov. 30, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 310,840

[52] US. Cl. 223/37 [51] Int. Cl A41h 33/00 [58] Field of Search.... 270/62, 66; 223/1, 37; 53/64, 66, 117, 21 R, 21 FW [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,097,770 7/1963 Garrow 53/117 X 33 50 f? a; I 32 112 (ct-f;

8/1969 Grantham 270/62 5/1970 Glaze et al 223/1 Primary Examiner-Geo. V. Larkin Attorney, Agent, or Firml-lenry M. Bissell [5 7] ABSTRACT A folder for folding articles of clothing, e.g., shirts, shorts, etc. with means for inserting a paper element or card in each article; the device includes means for introducing the paper or card at the entrance of the folder, with the article as it is introduced, and folding the article around the paper.

12 Claims, 11 Drawing Figures PATENTEBAUG slam SHEET. 1 BF 5 PAIENImAua 61974 SHEET 3 0F 5 PAIENTEDMIB 61914 SHEET 5 BF 5 FEED/BOARD MICROSWITLH l-i v T v v 1'\ 4'1 g g v D PDT RELAY L C PHOTOCELL LO RELAY ALARM 1 FOLDER WITH PAPER INSERTING MEANS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The folder to which the invention is applied, as disclosed herein may be knwon in the trade as a laundry folder, but it may be utilized for folding various articles, whether in a laundry where articles have been laundered and then folded or it may be utilized for folding new articles as manufactured, separate and apart from a laundry as the latter is usually known.

The folder has particular adaptability to folding such items as shirts, shorts, etc., and particularly it inserts a length of paper, or a card, in the article in the folding operation, this paper being utilized for providing a stiffening effect in the folded article so that the article will be more firm and less flexible, and may even be made to stand on end.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION A broad object of the invention is to provide a novel folder for folding articles of fabric, such as articles of wearing apparel and other articles, and including means for inserting paper lengths orcard elements with the individual articles, and folding the articles therearound.

Another object is to provide a folder of the foregoing character and including a novel arrangement of folder construction and a continuous strip of paper, and including means for automatically cutting the paper in lengths and feeding those separated lengths, or pieces, for folding individually in the articles being folded.

Still another object is to provide a folder of the foregoing general character which is automatic in operation, responsive to placement of the articles to be folded at the entrance end of the folder, and the construction including means for providing paper elements at the position in which the articles to be folded are placed, and inserting them into the folder.

Still another object is to provide a folder of the foregoing general character including means for incorporating a paper length in the fabric piece being folded, wherein, in one form of the invention, the paper is measured linearly according to a desired predetermined length and then cut off and fed into the folder, and in another form the paper is sensed according to sensing marks on the supply of the paper itself.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a folder, to which the device of the present invention is particularly adaptable, this view eliminating various details;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view oriented according to FIG. 1, and showing the left hand portion of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2a is a fragmentary view taken at line 2a-2a of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the mechanism disclosed in FIG. 2, but with the feedboard cover removed;

FIG. 4 is a detail view of certain elements oriented according to line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a detail view showing certain elements as viewed at line 5-5 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a view of certain details of the construction of FIG. 3 and oriented according to line 6-6 of the latter figure;

FIG. 7 is a diagram of the electrical circuit employed in the apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 6;

FIG. 8 is a vertical view, mainly in section, oriented according to FIG. 2, of a modified form of the invention;

FIG. 9 is a detail view of the face of the paper utilized in the form of apparatus of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is a diagram of the electrical circuit utilized in the form of the invention of FIG. 8.

In connection with the details of construction of the device of the present invention, attention is directed to prior US. Pat. No. 3,462,138, issued Aug. 19, 1969, to the present F. W. Grantham. That patent covers what is commonly known as a laundry folder and more particularly as a small piece folder. The folder may be used in a laundry for folding laundered items, such as towels, etc., but also it can be used for folding other items such as articles of clothing, e.g., shorts, shirts, etc. In folding such articles it is often desired to introduce a stiffening element which may take any of various forms, such as a paper piece, a card, or piece of cardboard, and this is true whether the folder is used in a laundry-for folding laundered articles, or in a factory for folding articles that are freshly manufactured. In any case, the articles to be folded are inserted into the folder and they are folded with, and around, a paper, or thin card, or cardboard, and the operation of folding the article is independent of and not controlled by introduction of the paper, but the operation is as if the article to be folded is introduced into the folder and foldedwithout regard to any other operation. The material introduced into and folded with the article being folded, whether paper, thin card, or cardboard, is generically referred to herein as paper.

Referring in detail to the accompanying drawings, attention is directed first to FIGS. 1 and 2a showing a folder 20 which generally is as shown in the Grantham patent identified above. This folder 20 includes a feed board 22 on which the articles to be folded are placed, identified as 24, which may be shirts, shorts, etc. in accordance with the nature of the folder to which the invention is applied. In the present case the feedboard 22 leads to either of a pair of folding instrumentalities or components one of which as indicated generally at 26, and another indicated at 28. The feedboard is in the fonn of an endless belt made up of a plurality of transversely spaced elements 29 such as the elements 56 lllustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 in the above Grantham patent. The feedboard runs continuously. The folding component 28 includes a continuously running upglide apron 30 (FIG. 2) and an upglide slide 32. The apron 30 is in the form of an endless belt on rolls 31 one of which is shown and working on the upglide slide 32 and the latter includes a lower end 33 which extends down into spaces between belt elements of the feedboard 22. The specific folding components in the folder as represented in FIG. 1 are not of the essence of the invention, and attention now is directed to the specific form of feeding the paper increments into the fabric articles being folded. A switch 34 has an actuating finger 35 biased upwardly but movable downwardly into a space between the belt elements of the feedboard 22.

Attention is now directed particularly to FIG. 2, and

to additional FIGS. 36. FIG. 2 is a vertical view oriented according to FIG. 1 but showing the internal elements of the device positioned at the left hand end of FIG. 1. The mechanism shown in detail in FIG. 1 includes a main roll 36 mounted on a shaft 38, with which is directly associated an apron component 40 which includes an endless belt 42 which may be in the form of a plurality of transversely spaced belt elements, this belt being trained on an upper roll 44 and a lower roll 46 both free turning and mounted on a pair of arms 48 mounted on the axis 50 of the upper roller 44. The arms 48, and with them the roll 44, may be mounted by shaft elements 51 (FIG. 3) in the frame of the folder.

Connected with the lower ends of the arms 48 are tension springs 52 (FIG. 3) biasing the arms 48, and thus the belt 42 thereon, into operative engagement (counterclockwise FIG. 2) so that the belt 42 is brought into engagement with the roll 36, and/or the paper 54 therebetween, supplied as a continuous strip in a roll 55 and cut into lengths or increments as described below.

Below the main roll 36 is a knife roll 56 mounted on a shaft 57 and including a pair of radial knives 58. The knives 58 have their outer cutting edges disposed in a circumference 59 of predetermined dimension according to the desired length of paper being cut for folding in the fabric articles to be folded. For example, the outer edges of the two knife blades 58 may be peripherally spaced apart 4 inches for providing cut pieces or increments of that size, or multiples of that size, as explained more fully hereinbelow, such for example as 8 inches, 12 inches, 16 inches, etc.

Directly associated with the knife roll 56 is a holding roll 60 mounted on a shaft 62, and having an outer surface 64 of suitable soft and resilient material, capable of receiving the outer edges of the knife blades 58 without permanent deformation of the roll 60, and without cutting the paper, but capable of cooperating with the roll 56 for gripping therebetween the paper 54 as the latter is being fed through the machine.

The mechanism additionally includes a roll 66 mounted on a shaft 68 and associated with this roll are a pair of free turning rolls 70, 72, mounted respectively on arms 74, 76, these arms being mounted on a common shaft 78 having an axis 79, and biased by means of coil springs 81 for bringing the rolls 70, 72 into constant engagement with the roll 66.

The mechanism also includes a brake mechanism 80 which includes a brake bar 82 extending transversely of the machine supported by arms 84 one of which is shown in FIG. 2, pivoted on an axis 86, supported as by a shaft 87 (FIG. 3). The brake bar is actuated by a jack or brake cylinder 88 or two such (FIG. 3), the latter when extended, being operative for bringing the brake bar into operative engagement with the roll 66, and the paper on that roll, for holding the paper in its position at that time.

The main roll 36 is driven by a motor 85 through a chain 89 (FIGS. 2 and 3) which is operative for driving the feedboard 22 at a predetermined linear speed, and the mechanism is operative for feeding the paper 54 linearly at the same speed as the feedboard, namely at the same peripheral speed as the roll 36. In other words the paper to be folded in the fabric articles is fed into the machine, and into the individual articles, at the same rate of linear speed as the fabric articles so that the paper is fed in increments according to the dimensions of the articles being folded and in dimensions to fit those articles thus folded, which then are in the form of self-contained folded fabric packages with stiffening paper elements therein. The main roll 36 is driven selectively by the motor and a jack 98 as described below.

The mechanism includes various elements shown in FIGS. 3-6 including a cam arrangement 90 (FIGS. 3,4) which includes a series of earns 92, individually identified as 92a, 92b, 920, the first one 92a being mounted on the shaft 57 on which the roll 56 (FIG. 2) is mounted. The cams are provided with sprockets 94 individually identified as 94a, 94b, 94c, and interconnecting the respective sprockets is a chain 95 for driving the sprockets 94b, 94c pursuant to the driving impulse from the first sprocket 94a on the shaft 57. Guides 97 may be provided for confining the chain 95 in driving engagement with the sprocket 94b. As shown in FIG. 4, these sprockets are progressively larger looking from left to right with the corresponding lesser speed in the latter sprockets, but the cams may be all of the same size.

Associated with the cams 92 are switches 96 (see also FIG. 7) also individually identified 96a, 96b, 96c, actuated by the earns 92, and controlling the switches according to which is energized, in a manual operation referred to below.

FIG. 5 shows a jack or cylinder 98, the piston rod 99 of which is connected with one end of a chain 100 trained on a sprocket 101 mounted on the shaft 38 of the roller 36. The chain 100 is connected at its other end with a tension spring 102. The jack 98 is also operative for driving or advancing the roll 36, as well as is the motor 85, as indicated above, and for this purpose one-way clutches 104, 106 (FIG. 3) of suitable kind are interposed between the jack and the roll, and the motor and the roll, respectively, so that either can advance the roll independently of the other. I

FIG. 6 shows a line of drive for various of the rolls of the device. The roll 36 is shown mounted on the shaft 38, and a chain or belt 107 interconnects that roll and another roll 110. Another chain 112 interconnects a sprocket 114 on the shaft 68 of the roll 66 and the roll 56. As stated above, the roll 36 is driven by either the motor 85 or the jack 98, and the roll 36, acting through the belt 108 which in turn engages the roll 66, drives the latter, and the latter roll, acting through the chain 112, drives the roll 56. Thus the roll 36 and consequently the feedboard 22 and the roll 56 are driven linearly at the same rate. A magnetically operated main clutch 115 (FIG. 3) is mounted on the shaft 38 for controlling the drive of FIG. 6. The control magnet for this clutch is shown at 116 in the circuit of FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 shows the electrical circuit utilized in the mechanism described above. This circuit includes the switch 34 which has the finger 35, identified above; it includes the motor 85; additionally, it includes valves 118 and 120 for controlling the brake jack 88 (FIG. 2) and the jack 98 (FIG. 5); also it includes the switch means 96 including the individual switches 96a, 96b, and 960; additionally the circuit includes wafer switch means 108 including a manually settable knob 108a, and individual wafers 108b, 1080, 108d. The operation of the circuit will be understood according to the description of the operation of the device as a whole as set out hereinbelow.

In the following description of the operation of the device, an assumed starting position is that with the circuit as shown in FIG. 7, and with the mechanical elements as represented in FIG. 2 at rest. In this position the paper 54 has been threaded through the various rollers with the leading edge over and actually resting on the actuating finger 35 of the switch 34. However, the means biasing the finger to upper position is sufficiently strong that the weight of the paper itself will not depress the finger. The brake jack or cylinder 88 is released and therefore the brake bar 82 retracted; the jack 98 (FIGS. 3,5) is retracted; additionally the magnetic clutch 115 (FIG. 3) is engaged.

The operator places the article to be folded, or garment, over the leading end portion of the paper and the weight of the article is sufficient to depress the finger 35 and energize the switch 34, although the operator in the act of placing the article thereon may actually manually depress the finger. The article is then moved forward (to the right, FIG. 2) so that the leading edge thereof is moved into the nip or bight between the apron 30 and the upglide slide 32, and the article is thereby conveyed up the upglide slide by the apron, along with the paper as explained more fully hereinbelow. Energization of the switch 34 starts the motor 85 which turns the roll 36, and, through the magnetic clutch 115 (FIG. 3), drives the components shown in FIG. 6, the latter driving the rolls 56 and 60 (FIG. 2). The latter two rolls operate to feed or advance the continuous paper 54, which as stated above is fed at the same rate as the feed of the article into the folding means 30, 32. This feeding of the paper correspondingly advances the leading edge thereof, along with the article to be folded, into the nip between the apron 30 and upglide slide 32, and fed by the latter along with the article. This action includes another step, namely, the valve 120 (FIG. 7) is reversed, allowing the spring 102 (FIG. 5) to retract the chain 100 and extend the piston 99.

The wafer switch means 108 (FIG. 7) is preset manually according to the desired length of paper to be fed into the article such as, for example, lengths of 8 inchs, 12 inches or 16 inches. In the present instance the switch is set at a 16 inch position and accordingly the switch element 960 will be energized, this being controlled by the slowest moving cam 920.

When the paper has been advanced the corresponding length (16 inches in this case) the circuitry of FIG. 7 is changed, disengaging the clutch 115 and thereby stopping the drive to the rolls 56, 60. Also the valve 118 (FIG. 7) is reversed, pressurizing the brake jack 88 and moving the brake bar 82 into braking engagement with the roll 66, actually engaging the paper on the roll. At this stage, the main roll 36 continues to be driven by the motor 85, causing the paper to be folded over the knife 58, cutting the paper and continuing to feed the piece or increment cutoff, along with the article being folded.

In this cutting step, as indicated above, the paper is not gripped tightly between the rolls 56, 60, despite the presence of the knife 58, but the soft roll 60 is merely indented. However when the knife has passed by the roll 60, the rolls 60 and 56 are effective for gripping the new leading edge of the paper with sufficient force to feed it.

As the piece or increment of the paper passes by the finger 35, the finger rises, causing actuation of the switch and a return of the circuit of FIG. 7 to its original condition. As a result of this, the motor 85 stops, the clutch 115 again engages, the brake jack 88 is retracted, and the jack 98 (FIG. 5) retracts, establishing a replenishment cycle and driving the rolls 36, 56, 60

in forward direction a predetermined number of revolutions, as controlled by the length of the stroke of the jack 98, .thus feeding the new leading edge of the paper from its position at roll 56 where the previous piece was cut off, to extended position over the switch finger 35. The cycle has thus been completed and the device is at rest.

In the foregoing operation, paper lengths of 16 inches were cut, and in that case the knife roll 56 made two complete revolutions, in accordance with the peripheral distance of 4 inches between the opposite knife edges. In the practical design of the machine, certain dimensions have to be taken into account, 'and this includes consideration of the desired length of the cut pieces. In the case where the pieces are for example of less than 10 inches in length, the distance from the active knife 58 at the cutting position to the leading edge of the cut piece on the finger 35, in a practical construction, is greater than for example 8 inch, inches, when it is desired to cut a length of 8 inches, it requires cutting of the paper on the replenishment portion of the cycle (as determined by the jack 98 of FIG. 5). The

piece thus cut is then held, as distinghished from holding the supply behind the cut piece.

The following description of the latter operation, an assumed starting position is as represented by the circuit in FIG. 7, except that the switch 108 is manually preset at the 8 inch position, and in the case of FIG. 2 all of the components are at rest, and as shown except that the trailing end of the cut piece of paper is held between the apron 40 and the main roll 36, the brake jack 88 is extended and the brake bar 82 is in holding position, against the roll 66, and the magnetic clutch 115 is disengaged and the jack 98 (FIG. 5) is retracted. The new leading edge of the paper supply is at knife roll 56.

The operator places the article in position as before, i.e., over the leading edge of the paper on the switch finger 35, and moves it into the nip of the apron 30 and the upglide slide 32, which depresses the switch finger. The change in the circuit of FIG. 7 causes the motor 85 to run, which rotates the main roll 36 and feeds the paper, as before. The brake jack 88 is retracted, but the rolls 56, 60 do not rotate because the clutch is disengaged. The jack 98 (FIG. 5) is extended, allowing the spring 102 to retract the chain.

As the article passes by the switch finger 35, the finger raises, stopping the motor 85 and engaging the clutch 115. The jack 98 retracts, driving the main roll 36 and, through the clutch 115 and elements of FIG. 6, driving the rolls 56, 60. The new leading end of the paper is thus fed upward to position over the switch finger 35.

As the cam 92 of FIG. 4, as selected by the switch 108, operates its switch 96, the clutch 115 is disengaged and the brake jack 88 is extended to force the brake bar 82 against the roll 66, and the paper thereon, and stops the paper and those rolls. Continued rotation of the main roll 36 pulls the paper tightly over the knife 58 and cuts it, and feeds the cut piece forward to the at rest position which again is determined by the length of the stroke of the jack 98 (FIG. 5). The cycle for the shorter piece of paper is thus completed and the device is again at rest.

A principal advantage of the device thus described is that paper may be procured in the bulk, i.e., not preformed or preconditioned for use in this folder, but is fed according to the desired lengths and pieces cut according to those lengths without utilizing sensing means, i.e., a quantity of paper without features can be utilized. 7

A modification of the device of the invention includes means for utilizing paper that has been preconditioned for the purpose of cutting it into desired lengths, and for this form of the invention attention is directed to FIGS. 8-10. This modified device includes a constantly running feedboard 120 of the kind referred to above, and includes the siwtch 34 having the finger 35.

An apron 122 also of an endless belt character is mounted on free running rolls 124, 126, in turn mounted on side plates 128. The plates are mounted for oscillation about the axis of the roll 126 between the retracted position shown in full lines in FIG. 8 and advanced position indicated in dot-dash lines wherein the apron is in active engagement with the feedboard 120 or the paper therebetween. The plates 128 are biased to retracted position by a tension spring 130 and moved to active position by a jack 132.

Below the feedboard are a pair of free running rolls 134, 136 together biased downwardly by a compression spring 138 and raised by a jack 140. These two rolls are normally in interengagement, with the paper therebetween, and when they are raised the upper one engages the feedboard, and when they are lowered the lower one engages a roll stop 142 for holding the paper in position. The paper 54 is supplied from a continuous stock such as a roll 55 above, and as shown in FIG. 9 it is provided with spaced lines of perforations 144 and sensing elements 146 which may be for example reflective spots or apertures. A sensing device 148 of known kind such as a retro-reflective photo cell arrangement, has an end element 150 positioned for sensing the elements 146 (FIG. 9) and leading photo cell 152 (FIG. The circuit of FIG. 10 also includes electrically controlled valves 152, 154 for controlling the jacks 140, 132.

Upon the paper 54 being fed or threaded along as indicated, the sensing element 146 is sensed by the sensing means 148, and pursuant thereto the circuit of FIG. 10 is actuated, or lowering the rolls 136, 134 for gripping the paper at the roll stop 142 while the apron 122 is in advanced position, and the leading portion of the paper continues to be fed, separating the leading piece along the respective line of perforations 144 which at that time may be at any suitable location, such as the point 156. AFter that has been accomplished the rolls 136, 134, are raised, with the upper one engaging the apron 122, and the rolls are thereby rotated, feeding the new leading edge of the paper forwardly between feedboard 120 and the apron 122, to the position over the finger 35 of the switch 34.

We claim:

1. For use in a folder which incorporates a feedboard and at least one folding component, the feedboard and folding component including conveying means, in turn including endless belts, operative for conveying an article to be folded therealong and through the folder in response to the article being placed in operative association with the conveying means respectively, and the feedboard presenting a feeding position for initial placement of the article to be folded in a folding operation,

the combination comprising,

first control means having an actuating element in saidfeeding position adapted to be actuated in response to placement of an article to be folded in that feeding position,

a supply of paper,

means for advancing increments of the paper successively into said feeding position wherein each increment forms a length to be folded into the article being folded,

the paper increments, when in said feeding position,

being in such position that each article, when placed in the feeding position, is placed over the paper increment in that position,

second control means for controlling said advancing means,

the feedboard and folding component being operative, in response to placement of an article to be folded in operative association with the feedboard, for conveying the article through the folder, and for also conveying the paper increment under the article on the feedboard through the folder with the article, and for folding the article around the paper increment as they are being conveyed through the folder,

means for separating each paper increment from the next successive increment, and

third control means for controlling the separating means,

the first control means being operative, in response to placement of an article to be folded in said feeding position and consequent actuation of said actuating element, acting through said third control means for actuating the separating means, and acting through said second control means for actuating the advancing means for advancing a successive paper increment into said feeding position.

2. A combination according to claim 1 wherein the advancing means so advances the paper into the folder at a linear rate substantially the same as the rate of conveying the article through the folder.

3. A combination according to claim 1 in which the feedboard operates continuously, and

the means for advancing the paper includes belt means engageable with the feedboard, the belt means and feedboard together being operative for gripping the paper therebetween and advancing it onto the feedboard.

4. A combination according to claim 3 and including means anterior to the belt means and feedboard for selectively gripping the paper for limiting movement of the paper onto the feedboard to a predetermined leading increment thereof.

5. A combination according to claim 1 wherein the paper is a continuous supply and the means for separating the increments of paper is included in the means for advancing the paper, and is operative for separating the increments according to the linear movement of thev paper.

6. A combination according to claim 5 wherein the means for advancing the paper includes cutting means active upon a predetermined extent of advancement of the paper, independently of the condition of the paper.

7. A combination according to claim 5 wherein the means for separating the paper increments includes a rotary knife roll with radial knives extending therefrom, and includes a second roll cooperative with the knife roll operative for normally advancing the paper between those rolls, and the second roll is sufficiently soft to enable the paper over the knife edge to be indented into the second roll without cutting the paper, and the separating means also includes brake means holding the paper posterior to the knife roll, and means for advancing the anterior portion whereby to effect cutting of the paper over the respective knife edge.

8. A combination according to claim 1 and including two drive means for advancing the paper each independently of the other, one of the drive means being operative on a leading portion of paper and the other operative on a posterior portion of the paper, and further including means for gripping the paper at a posterior portion while the leading portion is being advanced and cutting the paper between the two portions of the paper, and thereafter operative for operating the other drive means for advancing the paper from a position posterior to the cutting location.

9. A combination according to claim 1 where the first control means includes switch means having a finger constituting said actuating element, the actuating element being biased to an inactive position, the advancing means is operative for advancing a leading portion of the paper to a position over said switch finger, the switch finger bias being of such strength as to resist movement of the finger to active position by the paper, but being so moved to active position by an article to be folded placed over the paper and the finger, and the folder also including electrical circuit means for controlling the second and third control means in response to actuation of the switch of the first control means.

10. A combination according to claim 1 and adapted for use with a supply of paper having a plurality of sensing elements spaced longitudinally therealong, the combination also including means for sensing said sensing elements, and circuit means responseive to and controlled by the sensing means for separating successive increments of the paper at intervals according to the longitudinal spacing of the sensing elements.

1 l. A combination according to claim 10 for use with a supply of paper having in addition to said sensing elements, a series of lines of perforations spaced along the paper supply similarly to the sensing elements, and the combination including means for gripping the paper supply and holding it at a posterior portion, and continuing advancing movement of an anterior portion and thereby separating increments of the paper along the lines of perforation.

12. A combination according to claim 11 in conjunction with the supply of paper referred to.

5,827,611 Dated August 6, 1974 Patent No.

Inventods) Frederick W. Grantham and Gordon L. Fleming It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Col. 1, line 5, change knwon to "known". Col. 5, line 37, change "inchs" to "inches". Col. 6, line 19, change "inch, inches, when" to --inches and when-. Col. 7, line 11, change "siwtch" to "switch"; line 44, change "or" to "for"; line 51, change "AFter" to "After". Col. 10, line 11, change "responseive" to "responsive".

Signed and Scaled this fourth Day Of May 1976 [SEAL] Arrest:

RUTH C. MASON Arresting Officer C. MARSHALL DANN (mmnissium'r ufPah-ruts and Trademarks 

1. For use in a folder which incorporates a feedboard and at least one folding component, the feedboard and folding component including conveying means, in turn including endless belts, operative for conveying an article to be folded therealong and through the folder in response to the article being placed in operative association with the conveying means respectively, and the feedboard presenting a feeding position for initial placement of the article to be folded in a folding operation, the combination comprising, first control means having an actuating element in said feeding position adapted to be actuated in response to placement of an article to be folded in that feeding position, a supply of paper, means for advancing increments of the paper successively into said feeding position wherein each increment forms a length to be folded into the article being folded, the paper increments, when in said feeding position, being in such position that each article, when placed in the feeding position, is placed over the paper increment in that position, second control means for controlling said advancing means, the feedboard and folding component being operative, in response to placement of an article to be folded in operative association with the feedboard, for conveying the article through the folder, and for also conveying the paper increment under the article on the feedboard through the folder with the article, and for folding the article around the paper increment as they are being conveyed through the folder, means for separating each paper increment from the next successive increment, and third control means for controlling the separating means, the first control means being operative, in response to placement of an article to be folded in said feeding position and consequent actuation of said actuating element, acting through said third control means for actuating the separating means, and acting through said second control means for actuating the advancing means for advancing a successive paper increment into said feeding position.
 2. A combination according to claim 1 wherein the advancing means so advances the paper into the folder at a linear rate substantially the same as the rate of conveying the article through the folder.
 3. A combination according to claim 1 in which the feedboard operates continuously, and the means for advancing the paper includes belt means engageable with the feedboard, the belt means and feedboard together being operative for gripping the paper therebetween and advancing it onto the feedboard.
 4. A combination according to claim 3 and including means anterior to the belt means and feedboard for selectively gripping the paper for limiting movement of the paper onto the feedboard to a predetermined leading increment thereof.
 5. A combination according to claim 1 wherein the paper is a continuous supply and the means for separating the increments of paper is included in the means for advancing the paper, and is operative for separating the increments according to the linear movement of the paper.
 6. A combination according to claim 5 wherein the means for advancing the paper includes cutting means active upon a predetermined extent of advancement of the paper, independently of the condition of the paper.
 7. A combination according to claim 5 wherein the means for separating the paper increments includes a rotaRy knife roll with radial knives extending therefrom, and includes a second roll cooperative with the knife roll operative for normally advancing the paper between those rolls, and the second roll is sufficiently soft to enable the paper over the knife edge to be indented into the second roll without cutting the paper, and the separating means also includes brake means holding the paper posterior to the knife roll, and means for advancing the anterior portion whereby to effect cutting of the paper over the respective knife edge.
 8. A combination according to claim 1 and including two drive means for advancing the paper each independently of the other, one of the drive means being operative on a leading portion of paper and the other operative on a posterior portion of the paper, and further including means for gripping the paper at a posterior portion while the leading portion is being advanced and cutting the paper between the two portions of the paper, and thereafter operative for operating the other drive means for advancing the paper from a position posterior to the cutting location.
 9. A combination according to claim 1 where the first control means includes switch means having a finger constituting said actuating element, the actuating element being biased to an inactive position, the advancing means is operative for advancing a leading portion of the paper to a position over said switch finger, the switch finger bias being of such strength as to resist movement of the finger to active position by the paper, but being so moved to active position by an article to be folded placed over the paper and the finger, and the folder also including electrical circuit means for controlling the second and third control means in response to actuation of the switch of the first control means.
 10. A combination according to claim 1 and adapted for use with a supply of paper having a plurality of sensing elements spaced longitudinally therealong, the combination also including means for sensing said sensing elements, and circuit means responseive to and controlled by the sensing means for separating successive increments of the paper at intervals according to the longitudinal spacing of the sensing elements.
 11. A combination according to claim 10 for use with a supply of paper having in addition to said sensing elements, a series of lines of perforations spaced along the paper supply similarly to the sensing elements, and the combination including means for gripping the paper supply and holding it at a posterior portion, and continuing advancing movement of an anterior portion and thereby separating increments of the paper along the lines of perforation.
 12. A combination according to claim 11 in conjunction with the supply of paper referred to. 